Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficients of yield and its components analysis in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch Ex Poir)

Abstract

Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient were studied for yield and yield component traits in twenty one diverse genotypes of pumpkin. Highest genotypic coefficient of variation was recorded for fruit length (cm), single fruit weight (kg), Brix (%) and yield per plant (kg). Heritability estimates in broad sense were higher for almost all the characters. The characters namely, fruit length, single fruit weight, yield per plant and brix% had high genotypic coefficient of variation coupled with heritability gave high genetic advance expressed as percentage of mean ranged from 76.84 to 96.06 which indicated that these characters were less influenced by environment confirming additive gene action, and therefore, selection of these characters would be more effective for yield improvement of pumpkins. Total six traits likely fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh thickness, single fruit weight and number of fruits per plant were positively and significantly associated with yield per plant. Path coefficient analysis also revealed maximum contribution of single fruit weight (0.869) to yield and this was followed by the contribution of number of fruit per plant (0.527) at genotypic level.

Brazilian germplasm of winter squash (Cucurbita moschata D.) displays vast genetic variability, allowing identification of promising genotypes for agro-morphological traits

“…The present study describes the evaluation of one of the largest germplasm volumes of C. moschata. The high estimates of genotypic variance for characteristics related to seed production observed in this study corroborate those reported by [51], who also observed higher…”

Germplasm of Brazilian winter squash (Cucurbita moschataD.) displays vast genetic variability, allowing identification of promising genotypes for agro-morphological traits

“…Most of the phenotypic variance estimates of these characteristics were due to the contribution of genotypic variance. These results corroborate those reported by [46], who also observed higher estimates of genotypic variances for NSF and flowering characteristics, and also a greater contribution of genotypic variance to the phenotypic variance in these characteristics. Additionally, most of the characteristics expressed high estimates of heritability (>0.50), according to the classification of [47].…”

Phenotypic diversity of pumpkins from western Kenya using fruit morphological characters

“…These fruit yield characters are very effective in discriminating between varieties of Cucurbita spp., and explaining variations (Norman et al, 2014); therefore, are the best suited for selection of pumpkins for germplasms and breeding programmes (Xiaohua et al, 2011;Mladenovic et al, 2014). They should also be used as priority characters in studies of morphological diversity, selection and effective utilisation of Mohsin et al (2017) observed strong associations between fruit yield characters and plant productivity of pumpkins. Yield characters are highly heritable and their expression is not easily affected by environmental factors (Martins et al, 2016;Mohsin et al, 2017).…”

“…They should also be used as priority characters in studies of morphological diversity, selection and effective utilisation of Mohsin et al (2017) observed strong associations between fruit yield characters and plant productivity of pumpkins. Yield characters are highly heritable and their expression is not easily affected by environmental factors (Martins et al, 2016;Mohsin et al, 2017). The PCA scatter plot (Fig.…”